LCCC eyes tuition increase

Former Luzerne County judge Joseph Van Jura was sworn in Tuesday to the Luzerne County Community College board of trustees.

Brian D. Gill, left, director of development at the F.M. Kirby Center, was sworn in Tuesday to the Luzerne County Community College board of trustees.

NANTICOKE - Students at Luzerne County Community College may see another tuition increase due to a projected deficit in excess of $3 million in 2014-15, officials said Tuesday.

The college board of trustees plans to approve the budget for 2014-15 in June. The tuition increase may be an additional $24 a credit, but it could be reduced by spending from an unreserved fund balance of about $3.5 million, officials said.

Tuition for county residents is currently $1,650 a semester for a full-time student and $110 a credit for a part-time student. The board increased the tuition rates from $96 a credit last year and from $84 in 2012.

Declining enrollment is also causing declining revenue. Enrollment was 7,130 in the fall of 2009 and is down to roughly 6,000, college President Thomas P. Leary said, adding enrollment in community colleges across the state has been declining.

This year also will mark the fourth straight year the college will not get an increase in state funding, Leary said during Tuesday's board meeting. The college's primary fund has a budget of $42 million this year.

During his report to the board, Leary added the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accepted the progress report submitted by the college in December. In 2011, the Middle States Commission placed the college on probation and demanded evidence the college is meeting commission standards.

The commission took the college off probation in 2012. The next progress report to the commission is due in 2016, Leary said.

New members

At the start of Tuesday's meeting, Luzerne County President Judge sworn in new members of the board of trustees. Brian D. Gill, director of development at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, and former county judge Joseph Van Jura joined the board after county council approved their appointments last week.

Leary's car

The full board on Tuesday approved an amendment to Leary's contract as president. The amendment, which was disclosed in March after approval by the board's executive committee, forced Leary to return a college-owned vehicle.

It was a response to an investigation into a hit-and-run crash in November involving Leary's vehicle. Leary also lost a week's pay. His current salary is $155,000 a year.

Email threat

Leary also commended staff for evacuating college buildings and property March 27 in response to an email directing a threat at the college. The investigation into the email is "open and active," Nanticoke police Chief William Shultz said prior to the board meeting.

mbuffer@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2073, @cvmikebuffer

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